Spacing adjustment mechanism of the depth gauge wheels assembly, planting row unit and agricultural implement

This application claims priority from and the benefit of BR application No. 1020210121912, entitled “SPACING ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM OF THE DEPTH GAUGE WHEELS ASSEMBLY, PLANTING ROW UNIT AND AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT”, filed Jun. 20, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present invention refers, in general, to a new mechanism for adjusting the assembly of depth gauge wheel of the planting row units of agricultural implements, such as the so-called planters and seeders. More particularly, this adjustment mechanism comprises technical, constructive and functional features designed and developed to promote the adjustment of the spacing between the gauge adjusting wheels in a simple, fast and efficient way, optimizing the time and procedures adopted for this type of adjustment.

The present invention also refers to a new planting row unit for agricultural implements, which is equipped with this adjustment mechanism for gauge adjusting wheels. Also, the invention refers to a new agricultural implement, which comprises planting row units containing said adjustment mechanism of the assembly of depth gauge wheels.

Several models of agricultural implements are known in the state of the art, for example planters and seeders that are used for the distribution of seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides on the planting rows in the field. As must be appreciated by a person skilled in the art, these models of agricultural implements can be self-propelled or not, and in the latter case, they are towed by a work vehicle, for example, a tractor.

Usually, these implements have a rigid structural chassis that is mounted on wheels installed at strategic points to allow their displacement, and this structural chassis also supports, a plurality of planting row units which are installed longitudinally along the entire length of said structural frame, with each planting row unit responsible for cutting the straw, opening a furrow in the soil, applying manure/fertilizers, depositing the seeds at a desired depth, covering the furrow and compacting the soil. Normally, these implements also comprise silos and tanks intended for the storage of seeds, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides, which end up being supported by the aforementioned structural chassis.

More particularly, these planting row units are configured to deposit seeds and apply other products to a desired depth below the surface of the soil, thereby establishing rows of planted seeds. By way of example, it is known that each planting row unit may include sets of opening discs which are intended to open a furrow in the soil to deposit seeds and other agricultural products, and these sets of opening discs may include gauge wheels that are able to control the penetration depth of these opening discs in the ground.

Currently, depending on the type of seed, said opening discs are adjusted by varying the opening angle between them, requiring the depth gauge wheels to be adjusted to, in some way, follow the spacing and positioning of said opening discs. Moreover, depending on the type of planting, there may be a need to adjust the distance between the depth gauge wheel and the cutting discs, so that it is possible to have an adequate space for the proper drainage of straw, mud and debris disposed in the planting area. Therefore, according to the technologies available in the state of the art, the adjustment of the spacing between the depth gauge wheels is normally performed by inserting or removing spacers along the rod that couples the gauge wheel arm to the frame of the planting row unit.show an example of how this type of adjustment is performed using spacers according to the state of the art. As can be seen by a person skilled in the art, it is necessary to disassemble the nuts and bolts, then release the support arms from the gauge wheels, and then insert or remove the spacer elements according to the desired spacing. After positioning the spacer elements, it is necessary to reposition the support arms of the gauge wheels and, finally, secure the nuts and bolts.

Usually, each planting row unit comprises two depth gauge wheels and, therefore, this entire procedure of adjusting the space between the depth adjusting wheels needs to be carried out in duplicate for each planting row unit. The complexity is even greater, considering that agricultural implements comprise a large number of units of planting rows, making it something significantly time-consuming, in addition to requiring specialized labor, which certainly ends up directly affecting the productivity of the planting process. Also, it must be appreciated by the person skilled in the art, that when there is not the proper spacing adjustment between the discs, the “bushing” and/or accumulation of mud and debris can require constant equipment stops, directly affecting the availability of the machine and the productivity of the work performed.

Thus, as can be seen, agricultural implements, such as the planter and seeder type, known in the state of the art, lack a practical, functional, and especially efficient solution, which makes it possible to adjust the spacing between the depth-gauge wheels in agile and efficient way, but mainly without the need to disassembly and remove the gauge wheel support arms, thus optimizing the time and resources used in carrying out these tasks.

Thus, it is verified that the proposals known in the state of the art to adjust the spacing of the depth gauge wheels of the planting row units are not practical and efficient, and may compromise the work operations of these agricultural implements that, in the end, end up affecting the productivity of activities and the interests of farmers. Therefore, these are, among others, the inconveniences and limitations that are intended to be solved with the development of the present invention.

Thus, according to the above, an objective of the present invention is provide a new adjustment mechanism for the assembly of depth gauge wheels of a planting row unit for agricultural implements, particularly those intended for the distribution of seeds, manures, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides in the field, such as planters and seeders, this new adjustment mechanism was designed and developed to obtain a practical, functional and efficient solution to the problems, limitations and drawbacks disclosed in the state of the art, as summarized above.

More particularly, it is one of the objectives of the present invention to provide a new adjustment mechanism for the assembly of depth gauge wheels of a planting row unit for an agricultural implement that comprises technical, constructive and functional tools capable of significantly simplifying and speeding up the procedure for adjusting the spacing between the gauge wheels depth, in order to improve and increase the productivity of work in the field.

Also, it is an object of the present invention to provide a planting row unit, such as those intended for the distribution of seeds, manures, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides in the field, which comprises a spacing adjustment mechanism of the assembly of gauge wheels depth, as mentioned above.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to an agricultural implement, such as a planter, seeder, fertilizer spreader or a sprayer, which comprises planting row units provided with said adjustment spacing mechanism of the gauge wheels assembly, as discussed above.

Thus, in order to achieve the technical and functional improvements summarized above, among others, the present invention refers to a new spacing adjusting mechanism of the depth gauge wheel assembly, which is essentially formed by a rod fixed on one side to a pivot assembly of the planting row unit, and on which a spindle with an external threaded face is mounted that interacts with the internal threaded face of a bearing of the support arm of the gauge wheel.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, said spindle may comprise, at the opposite end of the pivot assembly, a hexagonal head.

Still, according to a further embodiment of the present invention, the threaded outer face of said spindle and the threaded inner face of said bearing may comprise a thread of the trapezoidal, triangular, round, square or sawtooth type.

In another possible embodiment of the present invention, said spindle can be manufactured in a self-lubricating material, such as an ultra-high density material with fiberglass and graphite, with a very low coefficient of friction and zero or close to zero moisture absorption.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the adjustment mechanism may further comprise a washer cooperating with a snap ring, which are configured to stop the longitudinal displacement of said spindle with respect to said rod. Optionally, this washer can be made of a stainless material with a low coefficient of friction.

Additionally, the present invention refers to a planting row unit, which is configured to promote the distribution of seeds, fertilizers, manure, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides in the field, this planting row unit being formed by a structure that supports at least one opening disc and a regulating wheel, being also provided with a spacing adjustment mechanism as mentioned above. According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the planting row unit may comprise two opening discs and two gauge wheels.

Finally, the present invention also refers to an agricultural implement that comprises a structural chassis supported by at least one assembly of wheels and also has toolbars on which several planting row units are installed, and this implement agriculture comprises at least one planting row unit whose depth gauge wheels are associated with the spacing adjustment mechanisms as defined and commented above.

The invention will now be described with reference to its exemplary embodiments, and with reference to the attached drawings. Such figures are schematic, and their dimensions and/or proportions may not correspond to reality, since they aim to describe the present invention in a didactic way. Furthermore, certain known and common constructive details may have been omitted for greater clarity and conciseness of the description that follows. Reference numbers used are repeated throughout the figures to identify identical or similar parts. The terms eventually used such as “above”, “below”, “front”, “back”, “right”, “left” etc., and its variants must be interpreted according to the guidance given in.

Now, with reference to the attached drawings and, more specifically to, an agricultural implementis represented used in the distribution of seeds, manures, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides on the planting rows in the field, such as the so-called planters and seeders, which are configured to be towed across the field by a work vehicle, for example a tractor. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these agricultural implement modelsare formed by a tongue bardesigned to, on the one side, couple the work vehicle, and on the other side, support the structural chassiswhich is mounted on at least one assembly of wheeland also has toolbarson which several planting row unitsare installed. Said agricultural implementalso comprises silos or tanksintended for the storage of seeds and/or manure/fertilizer and are usually positioned in the central portion of the structural chassis.

Each planting row unit, as can be seen in, may include a fitting frame, one or more opening discsconfigured to form a seed furrow in the soil, the penetration depth of these opening discsis adjusted and controlled by means of the depth gauge wheels. Further, the planting row unitmay include an agricultural product delivery system (e.g. seed tubes or motorized agricultural produce dispensers) configured to deposit seeds and/or other agricultural products (e.g. manure, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides) in the seed furrow formed in the ground. In addition, the row unitmay include cover disc(s)and/or a packer wheelpositioned at the rear of the planting row unit. As will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the cover discsare configured to move the displaced soil back into the seed furrow, and the packer wheelis configured to firm the soil and provide better contact conditions between the seeds and the soil.

An agricultural implementas described herein may be, by way of reference, a planter model produced by CNH Industrial, commercialized under the brands Case IH and New Holland.

The terms referred to herein as agricultural implement, planter, seeder and their variants are used interchangeably to designate equipment or a machine designed and configured to promote the distribution of seeds, manure, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides in the ground.

By way of context, and as mentioned above,show embodiments of the state-of-the-art in which gauge wheelsare coupled to a planting row unitthrough a pivot assemblywhich comprises an spacing adjustment mechanismto adjust the distance between the depth gauge wheelsthat are assembled on support armsresponsible for performing the pivot movement with the pivot assemblyto provide the adjustment of the penetration depth of the opening discsin the ground. More particularly, as can be seen, the spacing adjustment mechanismis formed by a rodon which the support armof the depth gauge wheelis mounted, whereby the spacing adjustment between the gauge wheelsis, in this way, carried out by positioning spacer elementsalong said rod, thereby providing for the increase and reduction of the distance between the support armsand, consequently, the space between the gauge wheels. To perform this adjustment procedure, the operator removes the bolt nut, removes the support armwhich can weigh about 13 kg, removes or adds spacer elementsdepending on the desired configuration, and then attaches the support armback to the pivot assemblyand retighten the bolt nut. As can be seen by a person skilled in the art, in addition to requiring a specialized professional for this procedure, it takes time and special tools to perform this type of work.

Thus, in view of the context presented above, and with reference to the other attached schematic drawings, it is possible to verify that the spacing adjustment mechanismfor a planting row unit, according to the present invention, is formed by a rodhaving an end fixed to the pivot assembly, and on which a spindleis mounted which comprises an external threaded facewhich interacts with an internal threaded faceof a bearingof the support arm, said spindlebeing able to be rotated, causing the bearingto move laterally on the spindleand, consequently, causing the displacement of the support arm, and changing the space between the gauge wheels. In other words, according to the present invention, as said bearingof support armmoves in the opposite direction to pivot assembly, the distance between gauge wheelsincreases and, as said bearingof support armmoves towards pivot assembly, the distance between gauge wheelsdecreases.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the spindlemay comprise, at the opposite end of the pivot assembly, a hexagonal head, or any other means that facilitates the manipulation and rotation of said spindleto thereby promote the desired distance.

Also, according to another embodiment of said adjustment mechanism, the threaded external faceof said spindleand the threaded internal faceof the bearingcan comprise a trapezoidal type thread, which can offer better conditions of interaction and precision in the movement of the bearingon said spindle. Optionally, this thread can also comprise a triangular, round, square or sawtooth profile setting.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, said spindlecan be made from a self-lubricating material, such as an ultra-high density material with fiberglass and graphite, and which comprises a very low coefficient of friction, in addition to reduced ability to absorb moisture, as these equipment are operated in environments that may present aggressive and corrosive elements to the components of this equipment. It is worth mentioning that, must be known to the person skilled in the art, the hydroscopic degree of the material used in the manufacture of the spindleis an aspect of great importance in terms of durability, since the component will be directly applied in environments with significant level of humidity.

In addition, according to another embodiment of said spacing adjustment mechanism, object of the present invention, it is possible to have washersthat work together with at least one pressure ringto assist in positioning and longitudinally locking said spindletogether with rod. Furthermore, it must be clear that this assembly guarantees longitudinal locking of the spindle, but does not affect the ability of said spindleto rotate freely on the rod. According to a particular embodiment, said washermay be a washer made of stainless material with a low coefficient of friction.

Therefore, it appears that the new proposal for the spacing adjustment mechanismof the gauge wheels assemblyfor planting row unitsfor agricultural implements, according to the present invention, manages to improve the working conditions of these equipment, but mainly, drastically reducing the time and resources needed to carry out the adjustment of the distance between the gauge wheels, excluding the need to disassemble any part of the planting row unit and, with that, increasing the work productivity during the actual warehouse work. of seeds and/or application of manures, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides on the planting rows in the field.

Additionally, as mentioned above, the present invention refers to a planting row unit, such as those intended for the distribution of seeds, manures, fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides in the field, which comprises at least one depth gauge wheelassociated with a spacing adjustment mechanismas defined above.

According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, said planting row unitcomprises two opening discsand two gauge wheels.

Additionally, as mentioned above, the present invention also relates to an agricultural implement, which comprises a structural chassisthat is supported by at least one assembly of wheelsand also has toolbarson which several planting row unitsare installed, and the depth gauge wheelsare associated with spacing adjustment mechanisms, as defined and presented above.

According to possible embodiments of the present invention, said agricultural implementcan be a planter, seeder, fertilizer spreader or a sprayer.

Finally, considering all of the above, it is important to note that the present description aims only to present and define, in an exemplary way, particular embodiments of the new spacing adjustment mechanismof the gauge wheels assemblyfor a planting row unitof agricultural implements, according to the present invention. Therefore, as a person skilled in the art should appreciate, several modifications and combinations of elements and equivalent details are possible without, therefore, deviating from the scope of protection defined by the attached claims.